Vereda da Palha Carga (PR 13.1)
Vereda da Palha Carga runs 1.8 km from Louro da Gota to 25 Fontes in the IFCN table. Entry costs €4.50 per person unless you qualify for free entry. Book online through SIMplifica before you walk.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 24 September 2026 at 21:19, Madeira time.Fetch the current trail status from the IFCN page; one live request per 30 minutes for the whole site, otherwise the last check is shown.
- Length
- 1.8 kmIFCN table, Louro da Gota to 25 Fontes.
- Time on the board
- 00 h 45 mOne way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- Highest and lowest point
- 1,328 m and 970 m
- Start and finish
- Louro da Gota (ER 209) to 25 FontesFrom the route board at the start.
- Fee
- €4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under, for Madeira residents with their resident card and citizen card, and for anyone with a disability of 60% or more plus one companion. All of them still need a booking.
- At the start
- information board, leisure area at Louro da Gota
- Weather now
- 24.9 °C at Porto Moniz, 6 m
18.8 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 mThe two IPMA stations we show for this route, the nearest one and the island’s mountain station, observed 24 September 2026 at 20:00, Madeira time
Warnings come from IPMA by zone, not by trail. A yellow warning for fog, wind or thunderstorms is a reason to check the route status and the sky before you set off, and the forest service closes paths on its own schedule. Station readings.
From Louro da Gota to 25 Fontes
Start beside the ER 209 at Louro da Gota. Follow PR 13 Vereda do Fanal for the first hundred metres. Take the turn on the left towards 25 Fontes.
After crossing Ribeira dos Cedros, follow Levada Nova do Rabaçal to the lagoon. The board marks an information board and a leisure area at Louro da Gota.
Heather and the 25 Fontes lagoon
The path passes through high-altitude heather. Mountain uveira grows here too. Look for Palha-carga grass in clearings and on watercourse slopes. This grass gives the route its name.
Natural viewpoints look over the Rabaçal and Ribeira da Janela valleys with their Laurisilva forest. At the lagoon, 25 Fontes is an example of a suspended aquifer.
Weather and what to bring
Take warm clothing for frequent weather changes. Wear non-slip footwear because the path may be slippery.
The weather panel uses the Porto Moniz station at 6 m above sea level and Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 m. The route board gives a lowest point of 970 m and a highest point of 1,328 m. Keep the station's location in mind when checking the reading.
Booking your walk
Register on SIMplifica and choose an entry slot. Bookings and payments are online only. Free entry still needs registration and a booking.
You can book for today or tomorrow while places remain. A slot closes when it fills. There's about 15 minutes of leeway before or after your slot.
Returning or continuing to Rabaçal
From the lagoon you can retrace PR 13.1 to Louro da Gota. You can also continue towards Casa do Rabaçal using PR 6. If you're taking that option, I'd check PR 6's live status and direction rules before setting out. Book each route you plan to walk.
Another route to compare is PR 6.5 Vereda do Pico Fernandes. The IFCN table lists 3.8 km from Paul da Serra to 25 Fontes.
What the route board asks
- Weather is subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing; the path may be slippery so wear non-slip footwear.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Taxis Calheta +351 291 822 129; Porto Moniz +351 291 852 243.
Routes next door
Levada das 25 Fontes PR 6
open4.3 km (+ 4.3 km back), Rabaçal to 25 Fontes
Vereda do Pico Fernandes PR 6.5
open3.8 km, Paul da Serra to 25 Fontes
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long does Vereda da Palha Carga take?
The route board allows 45 minutes one way for its 1.8 km from Louro da Gota to 25 Fontes. That distance and finish match the IFCN table. Allow additional time for your return or for continuing towards Casa do Rabaçal.
Is PR 13.1 open?
Look at the live status panel on this page before setting out. Use its status check button for the latest available IFCN information. A weather warning doesn't automatically close a route. The IFCN route status decides whether you can walk.
Who can walk PR 13.1 for free?
Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents qualify with their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more also enter free with one companion. Everyone still needs registration and a booking through SIMplifica.
Is there a fee for several routes?
For two or more routes, the day fee is €9. Three days cost €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. Each route needs its own booking. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically. These fees exclude PR 1, which costs €10.50 for the full route.
Do I need a guide for PR 13.1?
No. A guide is optional on classified routes. You still need your SIMplifica entry booking to walk independently. Check the live status before leaving for Louro da Gota. Take the warm clothing and non-slip footwear requested on the board.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't qualify for a refund. A refund or rescheduling is possible only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days with your request. Illness or a missed flight won't qualify either. Changing your mind also means losing the fee.
Sources
- IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated · checked by islandmadeira.com ; re-read every few hours.
- IFCN, route board PR 13.1 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 20 September 2026.
- IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 September 2026.
Who checked this
Roman Antonov, editor. The status comes from the forest service table, the figures from the board at the start of the route and the fee rules from the IFCN FAQ, each with its date above. If something on the ground has changed, tell me.
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